MA H1724

Bill

MA H1724

Establishing a right to counsel in civil asset forfeiture cases

Introduced
03/29/2021

In Committee
03/29/2021

Crossed Over

Passed

Dead
12/31/2022

Introduced Session

192nd General Court

Bill Summary

By Mr. LeBoeuf of Worcester, a petition of David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf, David Allen Robertson and Elizabeth A. Malia establishing a right to counsel in civil asset forfeiture cases. The Judiciary.

AI Summary

This bill establishes a right to counsel in civil asset forfeiture cases in Massachusetts. It amends the state's Controlled Substances Act to require the court to assign counsel for any natural person who files a claim to property that the government is seeking to forfeit. The assigned counsel will be paid from the Counsel for Indigent Salary Enhancement Trust Fund, which is also used to pay for counsel in summary process (eviction) proceedings. The bill also directs the state's Committee for Public Counsel Services to establish and maintain a system for appointing counsel to represent indigent individuals and families in summary process and related proceedings.

Committee Categories

Justice

Sponsors (3)

David LeBoeuf (D)*, Elizabeth Malia (D), Dave Robertson (D),

Last Action

Accompanied a new draft, see S2671 (on 02/10/2022)

Official Document

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H1724

(9 Companion Bills)

Version:

Document Type	Source Location
State Bill Page	https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H1724
Bill	https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H1724.pdf

Bill	Bill Name	Last Action	Type
H1678	Removing state funded counsel for sex offender classification hearings	Accompanied a study order, see H4844	Similar To
H1735	Relative to indigent defense counsel	Accompanied a study order, see H4844	Similar To
H187	Requiring the documentation of child counsel appointments	No further action taken	Similar To
H3171	Relative to CPCS reimbursement	Accompanied a study order, see H4910	Similar To
S1745	Relative to the collective bargaining rights for employees of the committee for public counsel services	Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means	Similar To
S2671	Relative to forfeiture reform	Amendment (as recommended by the committee on Senate Ways and Means) adopted, as amended	Replaced by
S874	Promoting housing stability and homelessness prevention in Massachusetts	Accompanied a study order, see H5266	Similar To
S911	To eliminate the public counsel fee	Accompanied a study order, see S2665	Similar To
S915	Ensuring an open files policy	Accompanied a study order, see S2665	Similar To

Bill > H1724

summary

Introduced Session

Bill Summary

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Sponsors (3)

Last Action

Official Document

bill text

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